FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT BARCELONA - PAGE 5

By Christopher Clarey Last October, Luis Suarez made a lackluster debut for Barcelona in a 3-1 defeat against Real Madrid that raised questions over whether he could return to form after a long ban and justify the record transfer fee that brought him here. On Sunday, Suarez repaid at least part of Barcelona's investment by scoring a beautiful and decisive goal in a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the latest Clasico. With the win, Barcelona opened up a 4-point lead over Madrid at the top of La Liga, with 10 games remaining in the season.

MADRID: Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and Raul Gonzalez scored first-half goals to help Real Madrid to a 4-2 victory over Spanish League leader FC Barcelona in the 150th league meeting between the country's biggest teams. Michael Owen added Madrid's fourth goal yesterday after halftime at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, reducing Barcelona's lead to six points with seven rounds to play. "People said the league was all over. I always said it wasn't," said Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard.

The carousel still spins but it doesn't make the opposition as dizzy as it used to. At times this was more like the magic roundabout than the fairground Waltzer Barcelona used to get their rivals on - and that will make City even more frustrated about having failed to stay in this tie. Barcelona completed played 391 passes in the first half but Xavi's early long-range effort was their only shot on target. The passing remains the same but the pressing is gone and while that matters less in La Liga, it struggles against stronger European opposition.

MUMBAI: Adlabs premiered a first look of its soon-to-be-launched co-production Marigold on a mobile platform at the world's largest exhibition for mobile industry, 3GSM World Congress taking place in Barcelona. The annual event is known to be attracting over 60,000 visitors from the global mobile phone industry. Marigold, a romantic comedy, is Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's first Hollywood film and also stars, Hollywood actress Ali Larter (currently working in a US television drama Heroes )

NEW DELHI: Jet Airways on Thursday announced expansion of its global network by adding flights to Berlin, Lyon and Barcelona, in codeshare agreement with Brussels Airlines. The Indian premier private carrier, which has made Brussels as its international hub, would facilitate seamless travel between Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai to these three cities of Germany, France and Spain. A Jet spokesperson said these flights would be available for sale from Monday.

BARCELONA: Sahara Force India will make their first appearance of the 2015 Formula One season with Mercedes reserve Pascal Wehrlein driving their 2014 car on the opening day of the second pre-season test beginning here tomorrow. Force India will run VJM07 on the latest Pirelli tyres during the four-day testing after missing the opening test in Jerez. The Silverstone squad has now said that the new car is expected to make its debut during the second test here from February 26. The season opener at Melbourne takes place on March 15. "Pascal will drive the VJM07 on Thursday and Saturday.

NEW DELHI: Strong fan following and growing interest for football in India is encouraging Spain's FC Barcelona to step up its activities in the country. The club, which boasts of iconic players like Lionel Messi , Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique , is setting up a training academy in Delhi besides entering into marketing partnerships with brands. The idea, for now, is to generate enough buzz around the club and translate it into higher viewership for its matches abroad.

MUMBAI: Imagine Ronaldinho, the Brazilian magician and former FIFA World Footballer of the Year, performing his trick at the Cooperage or the Salt Lake Stadium. It could be reality in a few months. Ronaldinho's club, FC Barcelona, is seeking to explore opportunities in India. The Primera Liga giants, who are officially the third richest club in world football (behind Arsenal and Spanish rivals Real Madrid)

NEW DELHI: Football club FC Barcelona plans to set up training clubs in the country, making it the first foreign club to do so, a press statement said. The FCB clinics will start mid-December. "With six FCBEscola camps completed across the country, the clinics will be the honing ground for serious footballers to qualify for the academy. The coming up of the clinics and academy will pave way for creating footballers of tomorrow," the statement said. Anu Jain , director, Conscient Football said: "We will help in creating footballers whose skill and talent will be at par with any top international football playing nation.

Championship leaders Mercedes will be looking over their shoulders for any sign that their rivals have begun to close in. This weekend's Spanish Grand Prix offers the opposition their best chance yet of challenging the German marque's advantage. The race around the Circuit de Catalunya on the outskirts of Barcelona marks the start of Formula One's European season. It is also usually when teams introduce major upgrades to their cars. Mercedes have been unbeatable this season with Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton cruising to the flag in each of the four races so far. Three of those victories have been dominant one-two finishes.